Cell Culture

Abstract

A method for determining the effect of a plurality of culture conditions on a cell, comprising the steps of a) providing a first set of groups of cell units each comprising one or more cells, and exposing said groups to desired culture conditions; (b) pooling two or more of said groups to form at least one second pool; (c) subdividing the second pool to create a further set of groups of cell units; (d) exposing said further groups to desired culture conditions; (e) optionally, repeating steps (b)-(d) iteratively as required; and (f) optionally assessing the effect on a given cell unit of the culture conditions to which it has been exposed.

1 .- 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . A method for obtaining differentiated cells from stem cells or progenitor cells in vitro, comprising the steps of:
 (a) growing stem cells or progenitor cells in a culture medium adhered to a microcarrier or a bead, confined within a medium permeable barrier or entrapped;   (b) transferring the cells in step (a) from one culture medium to another;   (c) repeating step (b); and   (d) obtaining the differentiated cells.   
     
     
         48 . A method according to  claim 47 , wherein the differentiated cells are isolated by enzymatic detachment from the microcarrier or bead. 
     
     
         49 . A method according to  claim 47 , wherein the differentiated cells are isolated by digestion of the microcarrier. 
     
     
         50 . A method according to  claim 48 , wherein the differentiated cells are isolated by digestion of the microcarrier. 
     
     
         51 . The method according to  claim 47 , wherein the microcarrier comprises a plastic, a polymer, a macromolecule such as cellulose, dextran, agarose, or acrylamide, or inorganic materials such as glass. 
     
     
         52 . The method according to  claim 47 , wherein the cells are entrapped in cellulose fibres such as DEAE, TLC, QAE, TEAE or in ceramic cartridges. 
     
     
         53 . The method according to  claim 47 , wherein the cells are bipotent, pluripotent or totipotent cells. 
     
     
         54 . A method according to  claim 47 , wherein the cells are cultured in cell units, each cell unit comprising one or more cells. 
     
     
         55 . A method according to  claim 54 , wherein the cell units are single cells. 
     
     
         56 . A method for inducing a cellular process in cells in vitro comprising the steps of:
 (a) culturing cells adhered to a microcarrier, a bead, confined within a medium permeable barrier or entrapped;   (b) exposing the cells to three or more different cell culture conditions; and   (c) inducing said cellular process.   
     
     
         57 . The method according to  claim 56 , wherein the microcarrier comprises a plastic, a polymer, a macromolecule such as cellulose, dextran, agarose, or acrylamide, or inorganic materials such as glass. 
     
     
         58 . The method according to  claim 56 , wherein the cells are entrapped in cellulose fibres such as DEAE, TLC, QAE, TEAE or in ceramic cartridges. 
     
     
         59 . The method according to  claim 56 , wherein the cells are bipotent, pluripotent or totipotent cells. 
     
     
         60 . A method according to  claim 56 , wherein the cells are cultured in cell units, each cell unit comprising one or more cells. 
     
     
         61 . A method according to  claim 60 , wherein the cell units are single cells. 
     
     
         62 . A method for culturing stem cells and differentiated cells derived from stem cells, comprising growing said cells adhered to a microcarrier or a bead, confined within a medium permeable barrier or entrapped, wherein said cells are subjected to at least two changes of culture conditions comprising a change of medium. 
     
     
         63 . The method according to  claim 62 , wherein pools of cells are created and subdivided iteratively. 
     
     
         64 . The method according to  claim 62 , wherein said method comprises:
 a) combining one or more cultures of cells grown under different conditions; and   b) culturing the cells under common conditions.   
     
     
         65 . The method according to  claim 62 , wherein said method comprises:
 a) incubating a cell culture;   b) splitting said culture into two or more groups of cells; and   c) culturing said group of cells under two or more different sets of culture conditions.   
     
     
         66 . The method according to  claim 62 , wherein the microcarrier comprises a plastic, a polymer, a macromolecule such as cellulose, dextran, agarose, or acrylamide, or inorganic materials such as glass. 
     
     
         67 . The method according to  claim 62 , wherein the cells are entrapped in cellulose fibres such as DEAE, TLC, QAE, TEAE or in ceramic cartridges. 
     
     
         68 . The method according to  claim 62 , wherein the cells are bipotent, pluripotent or totipotent cells. 
     
     
         69 . A method according to  claim 62 , wherein the cells are cultured in cell units, each cell unit comprising one or more cells. 
     
     
         70 . A method according to  claim 69 , wherein the cell units are single cells.